Pierre Parks & Recreation Announces 2026 Summer Recreation Lineup
PIERRE, SD – The City of Pierre is preparing for another active summer as Pierre Parks & Recreation presents its 2026 Summer Recreation lineup, offering a wide variety of affordable youth sports, aquatics, enrichment programs, and special events throughout June and July.
Online registration opened February 16 at 6:00 a.m., with walk-in registration available by appointment at the Recreation Office.
New Partnership with YMCA
One of the biggest changes for 2026 is a new partnership with the YMCA.
“This year we are excited to use the YMCA as our gym space,” said Cody Peitz, Recreation Superintendent.
While there are no new classes being added this year, Parks & Recreation did eliminate the morning swim class in Session One due to past cancellations caused by cold weather.
Youth Sports & Aquatics
This summer’s youth sports offerings include basketball, T-ball, volleyball, pickleball, golf, tennis, archery, kickball, and KidFit.
Swimming lessons and aquatic programs remain a cornerstone of the summer season. With structured swim levels and access to both the outdoor pool and indoor aquatic center, children have opportunities to stay active while building essential water safety skills.
Preschool swim lessons are proposed at $20 to help make early water introduction affordable. All other swim levels (Level 1 through Level 6) are proposed at $30.
Enrichment & Special Events
Beyond athletics, families can choose from a wide range of creative and educational programs, including 3-D Art, Jewelry Making, Picasso Jr., Scrapbooking, Trail Trekkers, and Little Rays of Fun.
Safety Town remains one of the community’s most impactful programs.
“Safety Town has changed lives,” Peitz said. “A girl that went through the program saved a drowning child’s life at Farm Island using what she learned in Safety Town.”
Fantastic Fridays, neighborhood Fire Hydrant Parties, Archaeology Camp, and library partnerships round out the schedule, giving families flexible and engaging options throughout the summer.
Affordable & Flexible Programming
Most youth sports programs remain at $30, including basketball, kickball, KidFit, T-ball, volleyball, golf, and pickleball. Archery is proposed at $40 due to specialized equipment and instruction, and youth tennis is $75, reflecting extended instruction time and partnership support.
Most youth enrichment programs are also set at $30. Safety Town is proposed at $40 due to its extended schedule and instructional components. Little Rays of Fun is $20, and Fantastic Fridays range from $10 to $35 depending on the activity.
The summer is structured into four sessions running from early June through the end of July, allowing families flexibility when planning around vacations and busy schedules.
Preparing for a Busy Season
Parks & Recreation staff have already been preparing for the summer rush.
“We have been fortunate to have great interns and returning staff who take the lead and keep summer recreation running smoothly,” Peitz said. “We look for applicants who are passionate about the courses they are supervising and instructing. For example, our tennis instructors are all high school tennis players.”
When asked what he would tell families who haven’t signed up before, Peitz added, “Our online system makes it easy to sign up and track progress.”
Summer Recreation plays a vital role for Pierre families, offering children safe, structured opportunities to grow, learn, and stay active while parents are at work.
For full program details and registration information, visit cityofpierre.org.